Apparatus for changing intervals at which selected wires are arranged in a lateral arrangement of wires

Abstract

An apparatus for changing intervals, or the spacing, at which selected wires are arranged in an arrangement of wires includes a lateral arrangement of linear pipes which convey wires of the wire arrangement; means for applying opposing forces to the pipes to maintain them in parallel in the arrangement; and a wire-interval changing blade assembly having a plurality of blades which intervene between selected adjacent pipes and which overcome the opposing forces applied to the pipes, thereby causing the pipe forward ends to separate from each other while allowing their rearward ends to remain close to each other, thus diverging at their forward ends.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for changing the positioning of selective wires within a plurality of wires, comprising: a base;   a plurality of elongated wire-receiving carriers movably supported on the base, one of said plurality of wires passing through each carrier;   biasing means for biasing the wire-receiving carriers into a first arrangement upon said base, wherein all of said wire-receiving carriers are generally parallel with respect to each other; and,   a wire-receiving carrier shifting assembly for moving said wire-receiving carriers into and out of their first, parallel arrangement, the carrier shifting assembly including at least one shifter member which is selectively moveable actuatable between two operative positions, said shifter member being spaced from said wire-receiving carriers at said first position, and said shifter member contacting at least one of said wire-receiving carriers at said second position, said shifter member being aligned with said wire-receiving carriers such that when said shifter member occupies said second position, it moves between at least two adjacent wire-receiving carriers, thereby causing said adjacent wire-receiving carriers to spread transversely apart with respect to each other against said biasing means to thereby shift said wire-receiving carriers out of said first, parallel, arrangement into a second arrangement wherein said wire-receiving carriers are no longer parallel.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means includes a pair of spring members disposed between said wire-receiving carriers and two opposing side surfaces of said apparatus. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said shifter member includes at least one angled contact surface disposed in opposition to said wire-receiving carriers, said wire-receiving carrier shifting assembly further including pneumatic means for selectively moving said shifter member between said two positions. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said shifting assembly includes two spaced-apart shifter members operatively connected to an actuating means for moving said shifter members between said two positions. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a cam detachably fixed to a shaft at a selected axial position thereof, the cam having first and second cam means thereon corresponding to raised and lower portions thereof. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said shifter member includes a cylindrical rod member having a tapered surface in opposition to said wire-receiving carriers. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said base includes opposing front and rear end portions and said wire-receiving carriers having front and rear portions and wire-receiving passageways extending between said front and rear portions, the base rear end portion fixedly supporting said wire-receiving carriers at said rear end portions and restraining said wire-receiving carrier rear end portions from any substantial transverse shifting movement, the base front end portion slidingly supporting said wire-receiving carriers at said front end portions and permitting said wire-receiving carrier front end portions to shift transversely within said base front end portion. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said wire-receiving carriers include hollow, tubular members. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said assembly includes a plurality of shifter members, each of said shifter members including at least one angled contact surface, said shifter member contact surfaces having different heights relative to each other, whereby one of said shifter members contacts said wire-receiving carriers first, while at least another of said shifter members contacts said wire-receiving carriers secondly, thereby effecting sequential first and second lateral movements of said wire-receiving carriers at said front end portions thereof. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said shifting assembly further includes a slotted wire comb selectively actuatable into and out of horizontal alignment with said wire-receiving carrier front ends, the comb having a plurality of slots disposed therein which receive wires fed through said wire-receiving carriers. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said shifter member includes a cam wheel disposed proximate to said base front end portion and proximate to said wire-receiving carriers, the cam wheel being rotatably mounted to a shaft and further being rotatably operable between said first and second positions, said cam wheel having at least one cam surface which moves between said wire carriers in said second position. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for changing the interval of selected wires within an arrangement of a plurality of wires wherein the wires are generally parallel, the apparatus comprising: a base member, the base member having opposing first and second ends, said base member further having two opposing side blocks disposed between said first and second ends, said first end, second end and two side blocks cooperating to define a wire-receiving area of said apparatus; a plurality of elongated wire carriers disposed within said wire-receiving area and extending between said base member first and second ends, each wire carrier having a passageway extending axially therethrough, each wire carrier further including opposing first and second openings respectively disposed opposite said base first and second ends, said base first end fixedly receiving said wire carriers at said first opening thereof in a manner so as to restrict said wire carrier first ends from any substantial lateral movement, said base member second end slidably receiving said wire carriers at said second openings thereof so as to permit said wire carrier second ends to move laterally near their second openings when a force is applied to said wire carriers; means for biasing said wire carriers into a first predetermined spacing wherein said wire carriers are substantially parallel to each other along their respective lengths; and, means for changing the spacing interval of said wire carriers including means for applying a sufficient force to said wire carriers proximate to said base member second end to overcome said wire carrier biasing means to thereby cause selected wire carriers to spread laterally apart from each other proximate to said base member second end, thereby changing the interval of said wires in said arrangement. 
     
     
       13. The wire interval changing apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said wire carriers include a plurality of elongated, hollow, tubes. 
     
     
       14. The wire internal changing apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said wire carrier biasing means include a pair of springs interposed between said wire carriers and said side blocks. 
     
     
       15. The wire interval changing apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said base member second end includes a slot extending laterally within said base member second end, said wire carrier being slidingly received within said slot proximate to said second openings thereof, said slot including at least one expansion space disposed between a wall of said base member second end and said wire carriers, said expansion space defining an open area into which some of said wire carriers may be displaced upon actuation of said wire carrier displacement means. 
     
     
       16. The wire interval changing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said interval changing means includes an elongated vertical displacement member moveable between a first and second operating positions and disposed in alignment with a line of engagement lying between a pair of adjacent wire carriers, the displacement member having an angled contact surface which contacts at least one of said pair of adjacent wire carriers when said displacement member is in said second operating position, said displacement member exerting, by way of said contact surface, a lateral displacement force on said one wire carrier to thereby laterally change said parallel arrangement of said wire carriers proximate to said base member second end. 
     
     
       17. The wire interval changing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said interval changing means includes a plurality of displacement members. 
     
     
       18. The wire interval changing apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein each of said displacement members is independently actuatable between said first and second operating positions. 
     
     
       19. The wire interval changing apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said displacement members are operatively connected to a mounting bar, whereby all of said displacement members act in unison as said displacement members move between said first and second operating positions. 
     
     
       20. The wire interval changing apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said interval changing means includes at least one displacement member mounted to a shaft in proximity to said wire carriers, the displacement member being rotatable between first and second operating positions, said rotatable displacement member further including a cam surface which contacts at least one of said pair of adjacent wire carriers when said displacement member is in said first operating position. 
     
     
       21. The wire interval changing apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said displacement member includes a cam wheel and said cam surface includes an angled contact surface.